Comics That Kiss Better

Events

June in New Orleans!

Discover the beauty of bande dessinée this June in New Orleans!

We’re headed to the “Big Easy” for the American Library Association Conference.

From Tintin to Persepolis to Valerian—French comics translate into bestsellers, growing new readers and library circulation. Click the arrow (see it?) to learn where to find #FrenchComics at #ALAAC18 and at Free/Public events throughout the city.

#ALAAC18!

#FrenchComics will be featured on panels and other programs all weekend. Get your book autographed: signings will follow each panel, with additional meet & greet opportunities throughout the weekend. (Full signing schedule to-be-posted).

10:30 – 11:20 am
Join some of the comics medium’s most renowned publishers as they share new and perennial titles for your collections. We will discuss comics for adults and kids, as well as fiction and nonfiction. Emily Drew, Youth Materials selector for the New York public library and Brooklyn Public Library, will moderate a conversation between staff of publishing houses Drawn & Quarterly, Fantagraphics, First Second, as well as the French Comics Association (Pauline Mermet) and Ingram.

French Comics Kiss Better: Bande Dessinée 101

11:30am – 12:20pm

Availability of translated European graphic novels/nonfiction has increased significantly in recent years, with genre diversity and literary, high-quality production to offer an excellent base for collection building. Come discover the beauty of bande dessinée (French comics), and learn about the rich Franco-Belgian artistic tradition, proven to translate into American reader favorites at any age, from Tintin to Persepolis to Valerian. Meet rising star creators with new releases, including Cati Bauer (Four Sisters), Aurélie Neyret (Cici’s Journal), Barroux (Alpha), and Eve Tharlet (Mr. Badger & Mrs. Fox). Moderated by Meg Lemke, French Comics Association.

signing to follow at booth #451

Story of Life: Graphic Biographies and Autobiographies

12:30 – 1:20
Graphic treatments of historical figures have been a booming area of publishing, from bestselling memoirs like Jon Lewis’ March to epic treatments like Chester Brown’s Louis Riel and comic treatments like Kate Beaton’s Hark, A Vagrant. While these heroic stories are becoming ever more popular in schools and libraries, memoirs of everyday lives continue to flourish in the autobio comics scene, each book as unique as its creator. Artists in both genre are faced with the challenge: how to draw a life? What details do you highlight–and what is left out? This panel brings together a discussion between artists behind new biographies of significant figures in art and architecture, including Thomas Campi, artist of Magritte and The Joe Schuster Story; Peter Tomasi of The Bridge, on the Roeblings (creators of the Brooklyn Bridge), with artist-memoirists Ellen Forney (Rock Steady) and Benjamin Reiss (Super Tokyoland). Moderated by librarian Candice Mack.

Reiss signing to follow at booth #451

Sessions:

European Comics: A Strange Animal!

9 – 10am

Morial Convention Center, Room 297

America is considered the cradle of comics but just look at how comics have evolved and diversified in Europe, to the point of becoming almost unrecognizable, much like Darwin’s finches! Publishers, agents and creators with experience on both sides of the Atlantic will enlighten us on how to read European comics and what differentiates them from their American cousins. Characteristics such as format, art & narrative techniques, social status, readership, stereotypes, censorship and adult content will be discussed with Mark Siegel (First Second Books), Thomas Campi (Magritte, Joe Schuster Story), Berenika Kolomycka (Tiny Fox & Big Boar), Sophie Castille (Mediatoon Licensing/EuropeComics) and Charlotte Moundlic (Rue de Sèvres / French Comics Association). Moderated by Andrew Woodrow-Butcher (The Beguiling/TCAF). Panel organized by Europe Comics.

Graphic Medicine: Narratives of Illness, Healing, and Care

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Morial Convention Center, Room 298

The medical humanities movement has given rise to doctors, nurses, and other health professionals turning to narrative to better understand the experience of their patients. In turn, caregivers have told their stories and opened up the sometimes insular world inside hospitals for general readers. As graphic novels and nonfiction have broadened and deepened in subject matter, the “Graphic Medicine” movement celebrates the rich works of sequential art that explore the myriad connections between patients, caregivers, stories of healing and stories of loss. This panel brings together Matthew Noe of Harvard Medical library with Penn State University Press’ Graphic Medicine series editor MK Czerwiec, also author and illustrator ofTaking Turns: Stories from HIV Care Unit 371, joined by acclaimed cartoonist Ellen Forney, with Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice from My Bipolar Life, and French creator Julie Rocheleau, withAbout Betty’s Boob (Boom Studios) a narrative of mastectomy (with gorgeous silent film references

Rocheleau signing to follow at booth #451

Film Screening:

The Big Bad Fox – feature animated film

based on the YA graphic novel by Benjamin Renner (First Second)

2:30 pm

Section C of the New Orleans Theater of the Morial Convention Center

Q&A to follow with Mark Siegel, publisher of First Second books

Sunday / June 24th

American Library Association Exhibit hours 9am – 5pm

At #ALAA18: Do it the French way. Stop by Booth #451 for morning croissants and captivating comics.

What do we want? Strong, diverse female protagonists in comics! When do we want it? Now–and now’s the time to meet these diverse creators of graphic novels, with books represented for readers young and old and young at heart. Including stories of adventure, romance, life transitions and challenges, and positive educational role models. Comics can take on all topics and from Smile to Ms. Marvel we see how women at the center of stories draws in readers. With Tee Franklin, Julie Rocheleau, Aurélie Neyret, and mother-daughter team Lucy & Liz Lareu! Moderator: Robin Brenner, No Flying, No Tights

Rocheleau and Neyret signing to follow at booth #451

Children’s Comics Crossing Continents

2:30 – 3:20

As more and more educators and parents are coming to see the superpowers of children’s graphic novels, there is an increasing need for stories from across the world, to help children discover other cultures and universes. An international lineup of children’s comics creators from three continents will discuss their latest books and the impact of their cultures and others on their overall work. With Eve Tharlet (Mr. Badger & Mrs. Fox; France), Christian Cornia (Brina; Italy) and Lorena Alvarez (Nightlights; Colombia), Vera Brosgol (Leave Me Alone!; USA). Moderated by rockstar librarian and author Betsy Bird (Funny Girl). Panel organized by Europe Comics.

Tharlet signing to follow at Lerner booth #3522

Sessions:

Seekers: Graphic Novels and The Refugee Crisis

2:30 – 3:30pm

Morial Convention Center, Room 227

Join Thi Bui (The Best We Could Do), and Barroux, the illustrator and co-creator of Alpha: Abidjan to Paris with author Bessora, as they discuss their critically acclaimed graphic novels. What are the human stories behind the headlines of the refugee crisis? Focusing on issues of immigration and displacement, both works are timely masterpieces that explore the importance of identity and the meaning of home, and showcase how essential the graphic novel medium is in opening up the narrative truths of individuals caught in the current political climate. Moderated by Karen Ginman, NYPL.

Barroux signing to follow at booth #451

Monday / June 25th

Exhibit hours 9am – 2pm

Film Screenings:

Tib and TumTum – based on the picture book series by Grimaldi & Bannister from Lerner!

11:30 am

Section C of the New Orleans Theater of the Morial Convention Center

Q&A to follow with Olivier Jalabert, Glénat Publishers

The Fox Badger Family – based on the Mr. Badger & Mrs. Fox series by Brigitte Luciani and Eve Tharlet from Lerner!

12pm

Section C of the New Orleans Theater of the Morial Convention Center

Q&A to follow with Eve Tharlet

French Storytime

French Storytime with Eve Tharlet (Mr. Badger & Mrs. Fox series!)

10:30am – 12pm

Perfect for French speaking children—and those learning the language!

The French Library, 3811 Magazine St., New Orleans

ALAAC18 Signing Schedule

The French Comics Association (Booth #451)

Friday / June 22nd

Signings

5:30-6:30pm: Open the show with Excellence in Graphic Literature Award finalist Aurélie Neyret (Cici’s Journal)

Saturday / June 23rd

In the spirit of the Crescent City, enjoy morning croissants at booth #451!

AUTHORS

Meet the Creators

Barroux

Barroux was born in Paris and spent much of his childhood in North Africa. After studying photography, art, sculpture, and architecture, he worked as an art director in Paris and Montreal before beginning his career as an illustrator. His work …

Aurélie Neyret

Aurélie Neyret is an illustrator from Lyon, France. When she was little, she loved to hide away and read all night long, and—more than anything else—to draw! Today, her approach to life hasn’t changed much, and she works hard to …

Benjamin Reiss

Benjamin Reiss studied art history in Paris, then went to the Emile Cohl School in Lyon to study comic art. After graduating, he worked in Paris for the video game and animation industry. In 2000, he met a Japanese girl …

Cati Baur

Cati Baur was born in Geneva in 1973. After getting a master’s degree at the Sorbonne, she was determined to become a cartoonist. An admirer of Claire Brétécher, Will Eisner, and greatly influenced by the environment in which she worked, she …

Eve Tharlet

Eve Tharlet is the illustrator of over 150 books for children, including the Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox series. Although born in Alsace, Ms. Tharlet grew up in Germany, taking courses in printmaking and screen-printing in Berlin before studying illustration …

Julie Rocheleau

Julie Rocheleau is an illustrator and cartoonist, most recently of About Betty’s Boob (Boom Studios). She worked a dozen years in traditional animation before devoting herself to books and comics. His albums, fruit of collaborations with different writers and writers, have won numerous awards …

Resources & Recommended Reading

About Betty’s Boob

She lost her left breast, her job, and her guy. She does not know it yet, but this is the best day of her life... An inspiring and surprisingly comedic tale of loss and acceptance told largely through silent sequential narrative.

By : Julie Rocheleau, Boom Studios

Alpha: Abidjan to Paris

With a visa, Alpha’s journey to reunite with his family would take a matter of hours. Without one, he is adrift for over a year, encountering an unforgettable cast of fellow travelers lost and found along the way.

By : Bessora & Barroux, Bellevue Literary Press

Cici’s Journal: The Adventures of a Writer-In-Training

Cici dreams of being a novelist. Her favorite subject: people, especially adults. She’s been watching them and taking notes. Everybody has one special secret...

By : Joris Chamblain & Aurélie Neyret, First Second Books

Four Sisters: Enid

Bereaved by the death of their parents, five sisters live in a seaside villa full of nooks and mystery—growing up sharing their grief, experiences, and love.

By : Malika Ferdjoukh & Cati Bauer, IDW

Mr. Badger & Mrs. Fox: The Wild Cat

The Wild Cat's mean words make Ginger wonder if she's a true fox. She sets out to find other animals like her. But she's about to learn that there's nothing better than being who you are . . .

By : Brigitte Luciana & Eve Tharlet, Lerner

Super Tokyoland

Benjamin Reiss flies to Tokyo to spend a year with Kayoko, the Japanese girl he met in France a year earlier. What he finds upon landing is a vast and complex culture, steeped in tradition but full of surprises.

By : Benjamin Reiss, Top Shelf/IDW

The Missions of the FCA

The French Comics Association (FCA) celebrates the originality of French Comics and their creators, and supports American publishers who bring these work to new audiences in translation.

THE FRENCH COMICS ASSOCIATION

THE FRENCH COMICS ASSOCIATION

The French Comics Association brings together many of the major publishers of French comics, including Dargaud, Casterman, Delcourt, Dupuis, Gallimard BD, Glénat, Le Lombard, Rue de Sèvres, and Soleil. As part of its mission to promote Franco-Belgian comics in the United States and worldwide, the association aims to promote comics translated into English, to support the U.S. publishing industry, and to stimulate cultural exchanges on the basis of literature and visual narratives.